How to Pose for an OOTD

Last Updated: November 23, 2020 References

An OOTD (outfit of the day) shot is a popular type of photo among fashion bloggers. These photos are usually posted on social media sites, such as Instagram. OOTD shots can take many forms, but there are some tried and true methods for getting a great one. If you are new to taking OOTD shots or just want to perfect your pictures, then learn about some of the successful strategies that people have used.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Positioning Your Legs

1
Try the knee pop. The knee pop is a great way to make your legs look longer and leaner. Start by standing with your legs straight and your toes facing forward. Then, turn one foot so that your toes are pointing out to the side. Then, bend this knee slightly while keeping part of your foot on the ground.^{[1]
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2
Stand with your feet parallel to your shoulders. Standing straight and tall is another great option to make yourself look longer and leaner while displaying your OOTD. Simply stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, and keep your back and legs straight.^{[2]
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3
Cross your legs. Standing with one leg crossed over the other one is a great way to bring a nonchalant air to your look. Simply stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and then take one foot and bring it across the other one.^{[3]
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- You don’t have to full cross your legs for this look. You can simply cross your legs near your ankles or calves.
- Make sure that you feel stable in your stance. Try holding onto a wall or sturdy railing if you feel a little wobbly.
4
Lean to one side or against a wall. Leaning is a subtle way to add some nonchalant flair to your OOTD shot. Try leaning slightly to one side, or lean back against a solid wall.^{[4]
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- Make sure that you do not lean on anything that might move, such as a bookshelf or a bus.
5
Walk. Walking is an easy way to get a great shot. However, make sure to walk very slowly. Walking quickly may result in a blurry shot. Also, make sure to watch for traffic as you walk.^{[6]
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- If you are wearing a skirt and want to capture how it moves, then you can also try doing a twirl.^{[8]
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- You can also place one foot slightly in front of the other to simulate movement without actually walking.^{[9]
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6
Sit on a bench or in a chair. Sitting on an attractive bench or in a chair is another great way to set the scene. By sitting down for your OOTD shot, you will instantly look nonchalant and relaxed. Try having a friend take a picture of you while you are sitting on a park bench. Or, sit in your favorite chair at home and snap your photo.^{[10]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Positioning Your Arms

1
Grab your skirt with one or both hands. If you are wearing a skirt for your OOTD, then grasping it with one or both hands is a cute way to accentuate it. Grasp an edge of your skirt with one or both hands as if you are about curtsy, but don’t actually curtsy.^{[11]
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- Experiment with lifting the skirt to different heights to show off its fullness. If the skirt is not very full, then simply raise it up a little bit.
- This pose works best with full flowy skirts. It probably wouldn’t be flattering to do this with a pencil skirt.
2
Raise one arm above your head. For a relaxed vibe, try raising up one arm over your head. For example, you can lift up your arm by the side of the road in a big city as if you are hailing cab, or raise your arm, bend it at the elbow, and rest your forearm on top of your head.^{[12]
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- Experiment with different positions to find what look you like best.
3
Grasp one arm with your opposite hand. To add some shyness or modesty to your OOTD picture, try grasping one arm with your opposite hand. Use one hand to grasp the other arm around the forearm or wrist. This will create an interesting angle that will not distract from your outfit.^{[13]
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- You can also try crossing your arms, but doing this might cover up part of your outfit, or make you seem impatient or annoyed. However, if this is what you are going for, then give it a try!
4
Keep your arms at your side. It is also perfectly fine to keep your arms straight out at your sides for your OOTD shot. Just let them fall and hang naturally at your sides. Don’t worry about doing anything with them.^{[14]
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5
Place one hand in your pocket. If you are wearing a pair of pants, dress, skirt, or other item of clothing that has pockets, placing one hand in a pocket is a great way to show them off. This pose will also help to create a nonchalant tone for your OOTD picture. Stick your right or left hand into one of your pockets and just let it rest there.^{[15]
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6
Shrug off your jacket. If you are wearing a jacket, then shrugging it off partway can be a great way to get a cool, relaxed looking photo. Try shrugging your shoulders and beginning to take off the jacket or coat, and then take the photo so that you get a shot of the jacket halfway on and halfway off.^{[16]
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Fix your hair. If you want to appear ultra-casual for your picture, try taking a photo while you are in the middle of fixing your hair. You can simply be running your fingers through your hair for the shot. You can also go more extreme by taking a picture when you are in the middle of styling your hair in the morning, or while getting ready for a night on the town.^{[17]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Perfecting Your Gaze

1
Stare back confidently. Looking straight at the camera is a great way to project your confidence in your OOTD shot. Try looking straight into the lens with a confident smile or without a smile for a more dramatic look.^{[18]
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Look over your shoulder. Turning to look at the camera is another great way to project confidence. By turning and looking over your shoulder, you will be able to show off the back of your OOTD and add some confident, playfulness to your photo.^{[19]
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3
Turn away from the camera. If you love your outfit, but don’t really want your face in the OOTD shot, then try turning away from the camera for the shot. This will help to create a mysterious tone for your OOTD picture.^{[20]
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4
Look down. Looking down is a great way to create a bashful, playful tone for your OOTD picture. Try looking down at the ground or at your shoes just before you take the photo.^{[21]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Setting the Scene

1
Take a photo at home. You can take your OOTD shot anywhere, but taking it at home may be the most convenient sometimes. You won’t have to worry about traffic, pedestrians, or other things that might get in the way of your perfect shot. Try photographing yourself in your living room, bedroom, or another attractive room in your house.^{[22]
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- Before you take an OOTD shot at home, make sure that there is nothing in the background that might distract from the shot, such as a pile of dirty laundry or another messy area of your house.^{[23]
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2
Have someone photograph you crossing a street. If you have a friend with you, the you might consider having them cross the street ahead of you and then have them take a shot of you as you are near the other side of the street, or even midway through crossing it.^{[24]
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- Make sure to watch for traffic and be very careful when taking this kind of shot.
3
Pose in front of an appealing building. You probably know of a building with interesting architecture or that would serve as a nice backdrop for an OOTD shot. If so, try taking your OOTD shot here. This will add interest to your picture and give your OOTD shot some artsy flair.^{[25]
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- Make sure to avoid buildings and walls that are too bold or distracting. This may take away from your outfit.
4
Incorporate a prop. Props can help to change the tone of the photo. Make sure that this is something that is actually part of your everyday life to keep the shot looking genuine.^{[26]
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- If you are a mom, try taking a photo with your baby in tow, such as in the stroller or in a carrier. Or, if you always grab a coffee on your way to work, then pose with your coffee in hand.
- Your cell phone can be a great prop to emphasize that you are a powerful, on-the-go woman or man. Have someone snap a photo of you while you are doing something on your phone. Keep your face neutral or furrow your brow slightly to indicate concentration.^{[27]
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- Sunglasses are another great prop. Pop on a pair before taking your photo to look extra cool.
- Hold your jacket over one shoulder. If it is cool enough to take off your jacket or coat, then hold it in one hand and dangle it over your shoulder. This will give you a laid back, nonchalant look.^{[28]
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5
Check the lighting. Taking your photo in good lighting is crucial to getting a good shot. That is why taking your picture outside during the day is often the best choice. Check to see if there are any odd shadows before you take your shot. If there are, then change your position until you find good lighting.^{[29]
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- If you are at home, try opening windows to let in some natural light, or turn on different lamps to see what works best.
- If you are out, then finding a spot with partial shade might work best on a bright sunny day.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Framing Your Photo

1
Identify your best angles. It is important to make sure you are capturing your best angles. Experiment to see what angles are the most flattering for you and take your photos with this in mind.
- For example, if you know that you look best when you are photographed at a slight profile, then make sure to frame your photos this way.
2
Capture your look with a full length mirror shot. If you don’t have anyone to snap a picture for you, then snap a shot in front of a full length mirror. Just make sure to turn off the flash first!^{[30]
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- Use a mirror at home rather than a bathroom mirror. Using a mirror in a public bathroom to take your OOTD shot can distract from your look.
3
Crop out your head. If you want to emphasize your clothes and nothing else, then frame the shot so that your head will not be in it. This is also a great strategy if you are having a bad hair day or if you simply don’t want your face in the picture on that day.^{[31]
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4
Focus on one aspect of your outfit. If there is one detail of your outfit that you especially like, then you can also focus on that one detail in your picture. Zoom in or take a close up shot of the detail.^{[32]
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- For example, if you love your new pair of shoes, then take picture of your shoes and post that as your OOTD shot.
5
Take the photo from a slight low angle to look taller. Using a tripod or having a friend take the picture, angle the shot from a slightly low angle. This will make you seem taller and it will provide an interesting angle.^{[33]
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- However, don’t take the photo from too low or it may be unflattering.^{[34]
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6
Use a tripod or stack of books to prop up your camera. The angle of your shot is important, and holding a camera at arm’s length will probably not do justice to your look. Instead, you can always ask someone to photograph you. However, if no one is around, then use a tripod or a stack of books to raise up your camera to a good height for capturing your look.^{[35]
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- You can also use a selfie stick, but keep in mind that you will have to hold it out and this may distract from your look slightly.